Casing head



ylo, 1949. G. D. JOHNSON 2,469,772

' Y CASING' HEAD Filed P90. 22,1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 //7 ran/ ar 6760/7 fl/0/7/7J0/7 y 1 1949. G. D. JOHNSON 7 2,469,772

CASING HEAD,

Filed Dec. 22, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/GURE-5 35 //vv /vroR GLENN 0.. JOHNSON H/s ATT RNEY Patented May 10, 1949 UNITED STAT as PM ohm-cs 2369372, cit-sine Glenn 1)....10111'1soh,,o.smpton,..oa1ir.,,fassignce a Baaslieltoss ,Ibol. Company, 1305 Angeles, Calif.

a corporation of California Applicatiomflecembtenfl, 1943,. Seriat Nim- 51 i'223fi 4 or'aims. (01. roe-4r);

This inventionrelates to a. casing head, and it is a general object of. the; invention to. provide improved, simple, inexpensive: and; practical. casing head construction toruse on wellsx A wide: variety of. structures havebeenproposedi and; used. the.- finis -hingr of; wells, these devices being commonly termed casing, heads. In many situations it has been, found desirableand prac. tical. to use certain welded. constructions. in. such; situations. However, such constructions have presented; certain limitations, and difficulties.

A further object of; the present invention is to; provide improvements:- in: a. casing. head of the character referred. to; which. results in a: compact, arrangement of; pants I and. which will acommor date anordinary onstandard; companion flange. of a.fitting,.-or 1ike,,that may be.-applied to. thehead. Heretoi'ore,. in. welded. head. constructions, it has been common to employ arrangements. and. combinations of. parts. which made special; come panion flanges necessary on parts to be attached tothe headh- Another. object. of this invention is. to provide a..c.onstruction= whereby an inner casing is eiiecw tively dependably supportedtrom the; head-during. normal WelL operations and is. releasable there from. to, facilitate. dismantling, or possible repairs; etc,

Another object ofv my invention is the provision: of awell' head construction: whereby it ispossible. to. quickly and efilectively co'nnectan inner easing: withthe. head and. when. desired. to release the inner casing" The various. objects and features of; my invention. will be fully understood. from the following. detailed. description of typical preferred terms of. apparatus and mannersofi carrying out: themethod practiced. by my invention throughout which. description reference ismade to the accompanying drawings, inwhich: r

Fig 1. is: a sidev w of. ahead cnnstruction;v em.- bodying the present. invention, the parts shown at; the left; of the figure. being. in: section: and those. at the; rig htl 01 the figure being. in elevae tionc. Fig. 2 is aperspectiveviewof. the shoulder. for the inner casing, showing; it independent of. thecasi'ng: andshowingit-immediately above Fig. 3 wliereini'sshowrc a perspectiveview of the sup-, port forthe shoulden. the rotative. positions ofthe parts shown in Figs. 2 and 3lheing; such. asto cause the shoulder tobe. supported by the support upon beingv lowered into it.. Fig.4. is. aview simi lar' to Fig. 2. showing the shoulder in a different. rotatilve positiodand' located immediately above 5' wherein the support is. shown, Figs. 4; and

dshowing thesepairts related so thattheshoulder will passthrough the; support upon being. lowered. the position illustrated; Fig- 6- is an ens larged detailed sectionaltview taken through theshoulder and supportillustrat'ing; one form of. lock means. that canoe used connection with. these parts, and "7. isal view similar to E'ig.- 6 showing another form otloclc means that} can be used.

The construction provided; by. my invention involves generally" embody .lIll which is the; principal.

part, of. the head andgwhich. isadapted: to be ap plied; to: an-outercasingll, a, basel2, that may be used in; connectioniwithlthebody l0! andcas:

ing tt, ashouldermeans t3, adaptedto be applied to an inner. casing; l.4. arranged. through the. body,

a support. I'd carried the: body [0, to. support theshoul'der. lipacki'rrgmeans, Is for sealing be.- tween the. inner. casing IA. andthe bodyl0 and.

various otherv features,,tl'1edetails of. which will be hereinafter. described.

The body lllisadapted. to be. secured to the upper. end. of. ,the- .casi'ng. l.l' and: in its. preferred form itlhas an annular skirt l1 depending, downe wardlu to receive. the upper end portion of the casing. tl,, a boreor cavity [8 extendingv downr wardly' into it. from. its upper, end to: accommodate other. parts, as will-.be hereinafter described,

and terminating. a seat t9. which carries the support. l 5ancl a' flange 211 at its upper end projecting. radially beyondtheothen parts and servingasa means wherebythe: body canbev coupled.

with other partslor fittings that may be. applied tothe, head. The, body has. one or more fluid connections. 21. located immediately below thefiangem and communicating withthe. cavity l8.

The-skint. I15 at-the lower part oi the body Ill has a bore-2211c receive the upper endportion of. the outer well casing l I1 The bore terminates; in. a. suitable stop. shoulder 23 which serves. to limit the. insertiomoi the casing intotheskirtl Lprefer to-employ- Welding-to join or connectthe body in and. easing. H ariditis. advantageous to employ two entirely independent seams. of welding,. both oif whichextend .entinely around... the connected parts and; each. of which is, in. and of. itself, a. secure, dependable connecting means. One of welded. connections. is.v an. exterior weld. and is provided. at. 2Z4Land'; joins. the lower end of the skirt. li with. the, exterior: of the well easing l.l.. The other Welded. connection is an interior weld and". is provided. at. 25-. between the. upper end at the well. casing l'landl the interior. of the skirt ITL Both Weldsext'endi continuously andlentirely around; the. casing and slirt.

preferabl form. the.

skirt n so that: it. has. a.

thin or light wall. It is preferred to form it so that its wall is about equal in thickness to that of the casing II This proportioning of the skirt I1 is important as it greatly facilitates the obtaining of proper welds 24 and 25, Heretofore, in constructions of this general character, attempts have been made to weld casing to bodies or heads of substantial mass and the results have not been altogether satisfactory. Parts such as a casing head or body are usually made of materials that do not lend themselves readily to welding, and ii an attempt is made to weld a thinwalled part to a thick-walled body the welding diificulties are aggravated. By providing a thinwalled skirt I1 I am able to obtain dependable and satisfactory welds 24 and 25.

It is preferred, in practice, to provide one or 1 more openings 26 in the skirt H to communicate with the bore 22 between the welds 24 and 25 so that tests can be made to determine whether or not the welds are tight. Tests can be made at any time through the openings 26 and, if necessary, suitable plastic packing can be inserted through the openings 28 to seal slight leakage that may occur should the welds prove defective. To facilitate the application of packing an annular channel 21 may be provided between the skirt and casing to carry packing.

' The base I2 is in the nature of an attachment to be applied to the other parts and may or may not be used, as circumstances require. A feature of the construction shown is the fact that the base is a simple construction readily applicable to the other parts and when applied serves as an effective tie between the body Ill and easing I I.

In its preferred form the base I2 includes a base plate 30 which may be a flat member arranged around the casing I I and designed to rest on the floor of the cellar or on any other suitable support. I prefer to fit the base plate 30' closely around the casing I I and to provide suitable welds 3| between the base plate and the casing II. Through this construction the base plate 3!] is independently and efiectively joined with the casing II at the desired point. I further provide upstanding ribs 32 on the peripheral portion of the base plate 3!]. The ribs are designed to engage under overhanging or downwardly facing parts of the body In and their upper ends are joined with such parts by welding 33. In the particular construction illustrated the ribs 32 engage under the flange 20 and are welded thereto.

The ribs 32 are spaced outwardly from the skirt I I of the body ID leaving a substantial space I0 between the ribs and the skirt. This construction allows free access entirely around the skirt to facilitate convenient welding of the lower end of the skirt to the casing I I.

In practice the base construction hereinabove described can be welded to the body I I! in a shop when it is known that the base is desired, in which case the welds 3! are the only operations required at the well, or, if convenient, the body It and base I2 can be handled as separate parts and the welds 3! and 33 can both be made at the tion isnormally located within the body In and I is an elerent which is secured to the inner casing I4. In the preferred construction the shoulder means I 3 is in the form of a split ring having two sections'A and B. The sections A and B are divided or split longitudinally of the head construction and form halves of an annular shoulder to be engaged around the casing I I. I prefer to secure the sections A and B in assembled position around the upper end portion of the casing I4 through welding, In practice I provide an upwardly projecting flange 35 on the means I3 to be welded to the exterior of the casing I4. The upper edge of the flange is preferably collapsed, as shown throughout the drawings, to materially lengthen the welded connection and thereby add to its strength.

The shoulder means I3 is fixed or welded on the inner casing I I so that when the casing I4 is in the desired vertical position in the body It the shoulder means It is located at or in a position to be supported by the support I5 carried on the seat It. In accordance with my invention the shoulder means I3 is proportioned to freely pass through the body III and it may also be made to pass through the casing II if desired. The exterior or outer face 35 of the shoulder means I3 is tapered to cooperate with the support I5. As shown in the drawings, the exterior of the shoulder I3 is tapered downwardly and inwardly.

The support I5 provided to carry the shoulder means It is in the form of an annular ring designed to rest on the seat I9 in the body I0 and its bore or inner surface 3! is tapered to correspond to the surface 36 of the shoulder and is adapted to receive the shoulder as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 6 and '7 of the drawings.

The means IE is a split ring construction, that is, it is divided into two semi-circular sections X and Y to facilitate insertion into or removal from operating position in the body around parts arranged in the body. In the case illustrated the seat I9 is shown downwardly and inwardly tapered and, therefore, the exterior of the support Iii has a downwardly and inwardly tapered part 33 designed to fit the seat I 9.

In accordance with my present invention vertical or longitudinal channels Gil are formed in the inner portion of the support I5 and similar channels M are formed in the exterior of the shoulder I3. The channels it and M are made of suflicient circumferential extent and are made deep enough so that the shoulder I3 can be rotatively positioned with reference to the support I5, as shown in Figs. i and 5, so that the shoulder can be passed through the support. When the shoulder and support are rotatively related, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the exterior faces 35 of the shoulder will rest on the interior faces 31 of the support, but when the parts are related, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the faces 36 and 3'5 will not register, but rather the channels 60 and ll will allow free passage of the shoulder through the support. It is to be noted that when the surfaces 35 and 37 of the shoulder and support are fully engaged the channels 40 and II register or are in corresponding rotative positions so that there are vertical channels through the structure formed by the shoulder and support, so that fluid from the casing II can pass upwardly through the structure and readily discharge frorn the body It through the fluid connections 2i, the openings 43 of which open into the cavity I8 at a point above the seat I9 which carries the support I5. In the preferred form of the invention I pro- I vide a lock means in connection with the structure just described to normally hold the shoulder I3 against rotation relative to the support I5. 5 such as would disengage the surfaces 36 and 31.

arms 45 projectin radially from. the shoulder [3 to engage between lugs 46 projecting upwardly from the support F5. In the'caseiil'ustrated there are three arms and three corresponding pairs;

of lugs 48' and the arms 45' are detachably connected to the shoulder 13 through screws Ma It willbe' noted from the drawings that arms 45 not only serve to cooperate" with. the rues 465 to prevent rotation of theshoulder l3: rela' ttve to'the'support I5, but that they will also serve to prevent passage of the shoulder 13 through support; When it is desired to move; the shoulder through the support the arms 45 are removed by disengaging the screws 41, Inthe form of the invention shown in Fig. '7 theqloclt means includes arms 45 the: outer ends- 45 of which are turned downwardly to engage in sockets 43 provided in the support t5, the sockets taking the place of the lugs 46.

The packing means l6 provided by the body It and the inner casing I4 may include a plate 50 designed to rest on the inner peripheral portion of the body flange 20 and having an opening 5| receiving the upper end of the casin [4. A recess 52 is provided in the plate 5| to carry packing and a port 54 extends from the recess 52 to the marginal portion of the plate 50 so that a test can be made to determine whether of not the packing in the recess is leaking or so that plastic packing material can be inserted, if desired. In the case illustrated spaced bodies of packing 55 are carried in the recess at either side of a spindle ring 56 and a gland 51 is carried by the plate operable by screws 58 to compress the packing in the recess 52. It is to be noted that the plate 50 is shaped so that it extends downwardly into the cavity l8 in the body In and that the various parts just described are arranged and related so that they are all confined between the upper and lower extremities of the plate 50.

The Plate 50 is preferably sealed to the body ID by a sealing ring 59 arranged between the plate and the top of the flan'ge 20. In a similar manner the upper end of the plate 50 may be sealed to the flange 60 of a fitting applied to the head through a a sealing ring 6|, as shown in Fig. 1.

In practice various fittings or attachments may be applied to the head provided by my invention. In the drawings I have shown a typical fitting applied to the head and including the companion flange 60 which is adapted to be $8- cured to the flange 20 of the body ID by bolts 65. Particular attention is called to the fact that the companion flange 50 is a plain, straight flange and that the construction which I have provided makes it unnecessary to recess or specially form the flange 60 to accommodate other parts.

In accordance with the method that I have provided the body In is applied to the casing ll through the exterior and interior welds 24 and 25 and, if desired, the base I2 is applied to the body and to the casing I l.

The support l5 is arranged in the body 10 and the shoulder I3 is assembled around the upper end portion of the casing l4, and is then welded at the desired point along the casing 14. The casing I4 is trimmed or cut so that a suitable length thereof projects above the shoulder l3 to receive the packing means l6.

During normal operation the faces 36 and 31 of the shoulder and support are in cooperative engagement and the lock means hold the parts in 6 met Fluidi from the casing: in is new the registering: channels so arm 4l discharge through the fluid connecrains 21'. The packing-means: is hel'di in place in connection with the body" rm means: of the bolts 65 which: clamp the; flange: at" toward the flange 2'0, the: state so being: clamped between. the flanges and the peckings w and 81 serving; to prevencreakage between the pl'ater 5t" and the flanges;- The packing: means It is made: tight aroimd theupper orprorecting end ot the casing: w and serves to prevent leakage between: thecasing and the plsitet accordance with: the invention, Whenit' is: can ed to: disengage theinner casing from: the head or tear r0 fer any reasom as for instance. when the well equipment is being dismantled; a. or other tool be insertedintne upper end portion of the inner easing ?4 and the armsfi 'beiii g removed, the shoulder I3 can belifted slightly tron-1. tire support- I5 whereupon the sup-- port cars rreeiy' rotated so that the surfaces: 36 and 31 are disengaged and the channels; 40 and 4'4 positioned to all ow the shoulder I3 to pass through the support l5. This operation can be performed either to allow the casing I 4 to be lowered in the head or to allow the body In to be lifted up off the casing [4.

Having described only typical preferred forms of the apparatus of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art which fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A casing head for use with inner and outer casings including, a body to be secured on the outer casing and having an internal seat, a support carried by the seat, and a shoulder located entirely with the body and having a part welded on the inner casing so the shoulder rests on the support, the shoulder and support having coengageable inclined surfaces positioned in cooperative engagement and also having channels formed in them whereby the shoulder and support can be positioned relative to each other so that the shoulder will pass through the support.

2. In combination, an inner casing, an outer casing, and a casing head including, a body to be secured on the outer casing and having an internal seat, a support carried by the seat, a shoulder located entirely within the body, Welding securing the shoulder on the inner casing to rest on the support, the shoulder and support having co-engageable inclined surfaces positioned in cooperative engagement when in one relative position and having channels formed in them whereby the shoulder and support can be positioned so that the shoulder will pass through the support, and means for holding the shoulder and support in position where the engaging faces cooperate.

3. In combination, an inner casing, an outer casing, and a casing head including, a body to be secured on the outer casing and having an internal seat, a support carried by the seat, a shoulder located entirely within the body, and welding securing the shoulder on the inner casing to rest on the support, the shoulder and support having co-engageable inclined surfaces positioned in cooperative engagement when in one relative position and having channels formed in them whereby the shoulder and support can be positioned so that the shoulder will pass 7 through the support, the said channels being located to register when the engaging faces are in cooperative engagement to form fluid passages through the structure formed by the shoulder and support.

4. In combination, an inner casing, an outer casing, and a casing head including, a body to be secured on the outer casing and having an internal seat, a support carried by the seat, a shoulder located entirely within the body, and Welding securing the shoulder on the inner casing to rest on the support, the shoulder and support having co-engageable inclined surfaces positioned in cooperative engagement when in one relative position and having channels formed in them whereby the shoulder and support can be positioned so that the shoulder will pass through the support, the said channels being arranged to register when the engageable faces are in cooperative engagement to form fluid passages through the structure formed by the shoulder and support, there being a lateral outlet in the body located above the support.

GLENN D. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED following references are of record in the file of this patent:

- UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 878,067 Johnston Feb. 4, 1908 1,938,062 Brown Dec. 5, 1933 2,074,923 Kitchel et a1. Mar. 23, 1937 2,142,149 Replogle Jan. 3, 1939 2,178,549 Block Nov. 7, 1939 2,189,575 Brown Feb. 6, 1940 2,228,555 Barker Jan. 14, 1941 2,237,683 Minor Apr. 8, 1941 2,284,983 Minor June 2, 1941 2,291,143 Brown et a1 July 28, 1942 2,306,102 Penick et a1 Dec. 22, 1942 2,312,476 Penick et al Mar. 2, 1943 2,313,169 Penick et a1. Mar. 9, 1943 2,350,867 Bean et a1 June 9, 1944 

